visiting lancaster area this weekend for possible move (Lebanon, Hershey: houses, tornado)

[North Hills Newbie]

who we are: couple in our 50's who love country/rural living with trees, streams, hiking; looking for our final living destination. work is becoming harder to come by here & as a nurse i see plenty of jobs in the area; he would love to work on a farm or some other trade. we actually were looking at other states in the south but are not afraid of bad weather (except maybe the tornado you just had!) & have family in Pa so prefer to stay.
our visit: our plan is to just take a road trip to check out the area, see if it is indeed suitable for what we want. any place or area in particular we should look at? anyone care to give pros/cons on why we should or shouldnt move there??

[ki0eh]

Paradoxically, areas closer to the Susquehanna River are hillier/more wooded especially south of Marietta, if job is more tied to Lancaster specifically. The Conestoga Trail goes up and down every side stream south from Safe Harbor to Holtwood.

The VA in Lebanon, and Penn State Hershey medical center, are major sources of nursing employment. There is a hilly/wooded area along the Lancaster/Lebanon county line (the Furnace Hills, although maybe not recognized by that name). Much of this area is State Game Land or owned by a land trust with many hiking trails. Mount Gretna is a small arts-colony town (a microscopic borough, with some more houses around it) on PA 117 west of PA 72. Colebrook and Lawn just west of there and Cornwall just east of there are likely more economical and a short bike ride away. Much of this area will have a Lebanon postal address.

There is also a wooded hilly area crossing the corners of three townships in SE Dauphin County just behind the Hershey Medical Center. The parts of this in Conewago (possibly with an Elizabethtown postal address) or in Londonderry (likely Middletown postal address) townships are going to be cheaper than the parts in Derry Twp (Hershey especially, but also Hummelstown zips). There is one small SGL in this area but Middletown is a highway hub also with frequent Amtrak service and the airport for relatively easy getaways.